Context

http://www.jss.org.uk/cw/Charles_Waterton/images-cw/mary-qos.jpg

The period in history in which Mary Stuart was brought into was in turmoil. Her father, King James V, died six days after her birth leaving a nation in her feeble hands. At the time of her birth, the tensions between Scotland and England were breaking out into war. King James V had been defeated by the English army and saw no hope for the future of Scotland. Mary Stuart’s mother, Mary of Guise, was French-born. A week after she was born, Mary Stuart was crowned the queen of Scotland. As soon as she was crowned queen, a marriage needed to be arranged. The Duke of Arran, James Hamilton, called for a betrothal to prince Edward of England, but her mother wanted a betrothal with Francis of France. From this promise of marriage, Mary’s life and the way she viewed the world would change forever. 

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